Giant's Causeway (horse)
Giant's Causeway (February 14, 1997 – April 16, 2018) was a Kentucky-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in Europe.
| Giant's Causeway | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Storm Cat |
| Grandsire | Storm Bird |
| Dam | Mariah's Storm |
| Damsire | Rahy |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1997 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Orpendale & Michael Tabor |
| Owner | Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Record | 13: 9–4–0 |
| Earnings | $3,078,989 |
| Major wins | |
| Futurity Stakes (1999) Prix de la Salamandre (1999) Gladness Stakes (2000) St. James's Palace Stakes (2000) Eclipse Stakes (2000) Sussex Stakes (2000) Juddmonte International Stakes (2000) Irish Champion Stakes (2000) | |
| Awards | |
| Cartier Horse of the Year (2000) Leading sire in North America (2009, 2010, 2012) Leading broodmare sire in North America (2018) | |
| Honours | |
| Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland | |
| Last updated on April 17, 2010 | |
Background
Giant's Causeway was a chestnut horse bred in Kentucky by Orpendale & Michael Tabor.
Racing career
1999: two-year-old season
As a two-year-old in 1999, Giant's Causeway was unbeaten in three races: a maiden race at Naas, the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh and the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp.
2000: three-year-old season
In the spring of 2000, Giant's Causeway won the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh and then finished second in both the 2000 Guineas and the Irish 2000 Guineas.
He then won five straight Group One races: the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, the Juddmonte International Stakes at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
His winning sequence was broken in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on 23 September, when he was beaten half a length by Observatory. On his final racecourse appearance, Giant's Causeway was sent to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in which he raced on dirt for the first time. Starting at odds of 7.6/1 he was beaten a neck into second place by the American colt Tiznow, with the other beaten horses including Captain Steve, Lemon Drop Kid, Fusaichi Pegasus and Cat Thief.
Awards
Giant's Causeway performance in 2000 earned him European Horse of the Year honors.
Post-Racing Career
In 2001, Giant's Causeway entered stud at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, then the following year was sent to stand at Coolmore's Australia branch. His success led to the stallion going to Coolmore's U.S. unit, Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. In 2006, he stood for a fee of $300,000.
Giant's Causeway died at the Ashford Stud on 16 April 2018 after a "brief illness" at the age of 21.[1]
Stud career
Giant's Causeway's descendants include:[2]
Pedigree
| Sire Storm Cat |
Storm Bird | Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalma | |||
| South Ocean | New Providence | ||
| Shining Sun | |||
| Terlingua | Secretariat | Bold Ruler | |
| Somethingroyal | |||
| Crimson Saint | Crimson Satan | ||
| Bolero Rose | |||
| Dam Mariah's Storm |
Rahy | Blushing Groom | Red God |
| Runaway Bride | |||
| Glorious Song | Halo | ||
| Ballade | |||
| Immense | Roberto | Hail To Reason | |
| Bramalea | |||
| Imsodear | Chieftain | ||
| Ironically |
References
- "Giant's Causeway Dead at 21". The Blood-Horse. 17 April 2018.
- "Giant's Causeway". Ahonoora. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
External links
- Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Giant's Causeway